Tying machine for elongated packages



April 3, 1945. B. H. BUNN 2,372,763

TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 l g z April 3, 1945.

B. H. BUNN TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10, 1941 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 3, 1945. BUNN 2,372,763

TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 /07 o o E /09 mg no O o 97 I /05 4 00 96 50 do 9 ///7 99 April 3 1945. B. H. BUNN TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.

2:: I I Z April 3, 1945. B. H. BUNN TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 wm x April 3, 1945. EH. BUNN 2,372,763

TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 a i/Maw April 3, 1945. B. H. BUNN 2,372,763

TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES Filed Dec. 10,. 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet-S April 3, 1945. I B; H. BUNN 2,372,763

TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES I Filed Dec. 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 April 3, 1945. B. H. BUNN TYING MACHINE FOR ELONGATED PACKAGES l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 10, 1941 ,herzi;

Patented Apr. 3, 1945 2,872,? TYIN G MACHINE FOR EIDNGATED PACKAGES Benjamin H. Bunn,

o, 11]., assignor to Chlcag B. H. Bunn Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 10, 1941, Serial No. 422,317

16 Claims. (0!. 100-31) My invention relates to tying machines for elongated or rod-like packages or bundles, and contemplates more especially tying machines for app yin one or more wraps of twine circumferentially about rod-like packages or bundles at spaced intervals therealong and knotting or otherwise securing together the ends of the twine at each wrap interval.

Package tying machines in general use, as ex empliiied by the tying machines disclosed in my patents, Nos. 1,606,290, of November 9, 1926, and 1,994,453 of March 19, 1935, permit of wrapping such rod-like packages or bundles only near their respective ends, because of the necessarily rather limited distance between the plane of the twine wrapping and the mounting hub of the twine wrapping crank arm. Greatly to increase the length of the horizontal eccentric portion of the twine wrapping crank arm, to increase the distance between the crank hub and the wrapping plane, would leave the twine laying end of the twine arm too far from its support and would give rise to an objectionable whipping action of the twine arm and an inaccuracy of the location of the payout end of the twine arm in its normal position. It would leave the so-called island" portion of the work table (the portion of the table which has to be suspended to permit the twine arm to pass around it) too distant from its support.

Not only has it not been feasible to employ the twine crank arm type of tying machine to such wrapping of rod-like packages, even with simple modifications thereof, but it has not been feasible to employ the so-called needle arm type of tying machine. This is partly because the needle arm type of machine is inherently limited to a single wrap of twine, and partly because the entire rodlikepackage or bundle would have to be shifted transversely in and out for each wrapping and knotting.

Among the objects and features of my invention are the following:

The twine is wrapped about a rod-like package without the objection of supporting the twine wrapping arm wholly from its distant hub or mounting.

A plurality of wraps of twine can be applied about the package at any station therealong and the ends of the twine knotted together.

In some forms of my invention, the rod-like package or bundle to be tied may be of indefinite or unlimited length, or in fact continuous (as, for example, where the tying machine may dito be wrapped as it comes from the machine which makes the material, such as a bundle of continuous strips coming from a battery of extrusion molding presses); or, rod-like packages of finite length may be fed end-to-end to the tying machine. Whether the article or bundle to be wrapp d be of limited or unlimited length, it may be passed continuously into, through, and out from the machine as a more or less continuous operation.

Any desired uniform or non-uniform spacing may be eilected between the wrappings.

Long loose pieces of material may be bundled quickly and easily by virtue of the compacting action of the tying machine. Or the bundle may, in whole or in part, be given its desired form by the support for the component pieces.

Even where the twine is supplied to the machine axially and at a great distance from the wrapping plane, the twine arm is not supported and rotated from a correspondingly distant mounting and drive, but instead is supported from a mounting, and rotated by a drive applied, close to the payout end of the twine arm. And also what might (by comparison with the type of tying machine disclosed in my above-mentioned patents) be termed the island portion of the work support is supported quite immediate the twine passing gap between it and the stationary portion of the support.

For the easy longitudinal progress of the work through the machine, it is, in some forms of my invention, supported by deeply grooved rollers which minimize friction and yet help confine a bundle of strips to an approximation of the desired contour of the tied bundle.

Among the articles which may be tied, or tied into bundles, by the tying machines of my invention are strands of such synthetic materials as "nylon," strips, rods or tubes of various materials, tubular insulation of the type known to the radio industry as spaghetti, sausage, or elongated rolls of sheet material, and the like. The tying machines of my invention may also be employed for tying rod-like packages which have first been wrapped in paper or other sheet material. Another example of the use of my machine is the tying together at intervals of a long bundle of mop yarns, later to be cut at intervals 59 into the yarn units for mop heads.

These and other features and advantages of my invention are set forth in the following description, and are illustrated in the accompaning drawings.

rectly receive a continuous length of the material I. In the drawings, of which there are ten sheets:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a package tying machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1 a portion of the base and of a twine holder being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the lower portion of the frame being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a similar vertical section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a'similar vertical section taken on the offset planes of the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary rear view looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. I is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the offset planes of the broken line 'il of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of package tying machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary section taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, a knotter beak being indicated diagrammati- Cally;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the oifset planes of the broken line iii-40 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a further enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a measuring pointer and adjustable mounting therefor for locating successive wraps of twine at measured intervals throughout the length of a package;

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a further modified form of package tying mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane of the line iii-l3 of Fig, 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of the line i l-id of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of the line i5i5 of Fig, 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and considering first the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, it may be pointed out that in the main the knotting mechanism and the operating facilities therefor are substantially the same as those illustrated in my Patents Nos. 1,606,290 and 1,994,453. The present specification therefore, for the purposes of brevity and simplicity, is written with the assumption that the reader is familiar with the general principles of operation of my is mounted on a main frame 2!! which comprises cast iron end frame members 22 and 23, which are connected by front and rear plates 25 and 25. A pair of .rods 28 connect the lower ends of the end frames, being secured thereto by nuts 21 threaded onto the ends of the rods. The end frame members are formed with laterally extending support portions 28 which have at their outer ends, supporting feet 29.

A motor 30 is mounted on a motor support plate 33 secured to the frame, the motor having speed reducing driving connection as by means of a V-belt, with a pulley 34 which is journaled on a shaft 35. The shaft 35 is journaled in the frame, and the pulley 3 3 is adapted to be connected, as by means of a clutch 38. to the shaft 35.

The clutch is operated, by a clutch lever, in a manner similar to that of my Patent No. 1,606,290, by means of a slip link 31 connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 38 pivoted on the frame. The other arm of the bell crank lever is connected, by means of a link 39, to a foot treadle 40. A coil spring 43 holds the link 39 and its connected foot treadle normally in raised position, thereby moving the slip link 31 into the path of a cam, not illustrated, on the main cam block G8 to move the clutch to inoperative or released condition. Depressing the foot treadl withdraws the slip link 31 and thereby actuates the clutch, which remains engaged for one complete cycle of operation, being restored to inoperative condition by the action of the cam on the main cam block M in a manner similar to that described in my Patent No. 1,606,290.

The cam block 44 is keyed to a shaft. 45 journaled in the frame, this cam shaft also having secured thereto the gear 46 which is in constant mesh with a drive Pinion 4i, keyed to the clutch shaft.

The gear 46 it will be noted has a, mutilated or interrupted portion 48 along one side only thereof, the other side of the gear, with which the pin ion 61 is in mesh, being uniformly toothed throughout its periphery. The mutilated side of the gear engages a wrapping head drive gear 39, which has a rather narrow face and is operative- 1y disconnected from the gear 48, when the inter rupted part of that gear is opposite it. A flange 50 projects laterally from the mutilated side of the gear 46 for a distance which may be slightly less than the arcuate length of the mutilated or interrupted portion of the gear 46. This flange engages a pair of rollers 53 and 56 (see Fig. 4) journaled 0n studs 55 and 56 which project laterally from the gear 49. The rollers ride on the flange 59 during the period when the wrapping head drive gear 49 is over the interrupter portion of the gear 46 to prevent the wrapping head drive gear from turning at such times.

A chain drive sprocket 5'5 is journaled coaxially with the gear 49 and is secured thereto to rotate therewith. A drive chain 58 passes around the sprocket 5i and around a chain driven sprocket 59 mounted on a hub 60 which is journaled on the clutch shaft 35. A second, larger chain sprocket 63 also is secured to the hub 60 and a drive chain 64 passes around this larger sprocket and around a chain sprocket ring 65 carried by a wrapping head 66.

The proportions of the chain sprockets 5i and 59; and 63 and the sprocket ring 65 are such, in relation to the wrapping ring drive gear, and, in turn its ratio to the toothed portion of the mutilated side of the gear 46 which it engages; as to rotate the wrapping head 66 a predetermined number of complete revolutions, determined by the number of wraps of twine desired around a package, for each complete rotation of the mutilated gear 16, constituting one'complete cycle of the machine.

The construction of the wrapping head is illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and '7. An annular mounting ring 67 is secured to the upper portion of the end frame member 22 as by socket-head cap screws 68. The transverse sectional shape of the mounting ring is shown in Fig. 7, and comprises an inwardly projecting roller support flange 69, a step ill to provide a roller housing, and a second step 73 to receive a clamp ring it.

A plurality of roller support studs 15, for example four or six, are secured in openings in the flange 69 as by riveting, these studs-each being adapted to receive, with telescoping lit. the inner race or hub member of a ball-bearing roller 16. The periphery of the outer roller race or rim member of the rollers projects slightly inwardly beyond the inner edge of the flange 99 to have rolling, supporting contact with a twine arm support ring TI.

The ring" has an outwardly extending flange II which is adapted to engage the roller support flange 69 to prevent endwise movement of the ring, and serves also as a spacer for the sprocket ring 69, which is mounted against the outer face of this flange l9.

The clamp ring I4 is mounted on the opposite face of the wrapping head ring from. the sprocket ring, and this entire rotating assembly, including the sprocket ring 65, the twine arm support ring 11, and the clamp ring I4, is secured together by through-bolts I9 which pass through aligned holes in all of these component members and may be threaded into the clamp ring. or secured with nuts 99 as desired.

A twine arm 83 (see Figs. 4 and 7) has an arcuate base portion mounted beside the inner opening of the clamp ring 14 and is secured thereto as by cap screws 84. A twine opening 99 in the twine arm base adjacent to the twine arm is in register with aligned openings through the clamp ring, the twine arm support ring, and the sprocket ring 65; to provide a passage for the twine through the wrapping head. The twine arm is bent at approximately 90 at 99 and at 91, and is provided with a twine guide 99 (see Fig. 7) The outer or free end of the twine arm has an axial hole 99 therein, with a lateral opening 99 through which the twine passes during a wrapping operation.

A twine slack take-up is mounted on the opposite side of the wrapping head from the twine arm, and comprises an arm 93 of light strap metal. pivoted in a bracket 94 mounted on the sprocket ring 65, and having a twine opening 99 in the outer or free end thereof. A light coil spring 96 is held in tension between the arm and a pin 97 secured to the sprocket ring to urge the slack take-up arm outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 6. The slack take-up is somewhat similar to that disclosed in my Patents Nos. 1,606,290 and 1,994,453 referred to previously herein, as is also a twine tensioning device 98 which comprises a relatively non-flexible member (see Figs. 1 and 5) having a pair of spaced openings therein. the twine being adapted to be threaded through these openings with a reach of the twine between the openings engaged by a lightly tensioned leaf spring 99 to control, with adjusted force, the withdrawing tension of the twine. The amount of pressure of the spring at its point of contact with the twine is controlled by a thumb nut I99 bearing on the spring. The twine tensioning member is secured, as by machine screws I99, to the base of a twine supply support member I94. which in turn is secured to the sprocket ring 99 as by cap screws I05. Y

The support I94 has mounted thereon a twine container I96 which is adapted to receive and support a supply of twine II". A twine guide I99 is adjustably mounted in a hole in the base of the support I94. and is secured in adjusted position therein by a thumb screw I99. The twine guide is bent at right angles to overlie the container, its outer end being formed into a guide ring IIII which may be positioned over the twine container to guide the twine from the supply to the tensioner, whence it passes through the slack take-up member to the twine arm.

A package support bracket 9, which may be portion III which is curved back toward the machine and extends horizontally through the wrapping head. 90. The top surface of this upper portion is flat and has secured thereto a plurality of rectangular U-shaped brackets II9. A package support channel member I", also of rectangular U shapeds of a size to fit snugly within the brackets III to be supported and reinforced thereby. The package support channel III and the reinforcing brackets III may be secured to the supporting bracket 9 by machine screws III, see Fig. 2.

The package support channel extends to Just short of the transverse plane defined by the end of the twine arm 83 during a wrapping operation.

The sides of the channel member I" are flaredv outward slightly as at H9 and I29 to prevent their catching on a package during a sliding movement of the package between successive wrapping operations.

The top surface of the horizontal bottom web of the package support channel I" is at the same level as the top surface of a package support table I23 which overlies the knotting mechanism indicated generally by the numeral I24. The package support table I29 is supported from the frame 2| at its inner end by angle brackets I29 and at its outer end by brackets I 26.

An angle bracket I2! is mounted on top of the table I23 with a vertically extending leg thereof located substantially in longitudinal alignment with a side of the package support channel III. This bracket serves as a guide, and as a support 40 for a package against lateral displacement under the action of the twine during a wrapping operation.

The operation of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive is as follows:

Assuming that a supply of twine is in position in the twine container I 06, the twine is led through the twine guide ring II. and thence through the tensioning device 99, opening 99 in the slack take-up 93. through the twine guide II. through the opening 99 in the end of the twine arm 93, and is inserted between the spring held parts of the twine catcher I29 to be retained thereby.

The motor 39 is energized as by means of a switch I29, and operates continuously during the time the machine is in condition for use, and through the V pulley 34 causes the clutch shaft 39 also to rotate continuously.

A package I33, outlined in dot and dash lines in Figs. 2 and 3, is placed in the channel package support III to extend onto the table I29. the package or bundle, preferably being held by the operator against the rear wall of the channel support and also against the vertical leg of the angle bracket I21.

Upon depressing the treadle 49 the link 39 and bell crank lever 38 act to withdraw the slip link 91 from between the clutch operating lever and the cam on the cam block 44, thereby causing the clutch to engage the shaft 39 and rotate it through one complete revolution of the cam block, or in other words with the clutch release cam on the cam block again engages the slip link to move the clutch lever to releasing position.

As above pointed out, the number of revolutions made by the twine arm during .a wrapping cycle is determined by the resultant or combined ratios of (1) the wrapping head drive gear 49 to the unmutilated portion of the gear 46, (2) the sprockets 51 and 59, and (3) the sprocket 63 and the Sprocket ring 65. In the machine illustrated, while the exact ratios of these gears and sprock-= ets have not been drawn to exact dimensions, the resultant ratio may be considered as three to one, so that for each complete cycle, as determined by one complete revolution of the cam block, the wrapping head makes three complete revolutions. Thus upon each depression of the treadle by the operator the twine will be passed three times around the package, knotted, severed, and the end of the twine connected to the package withdrawn from the twine catcher H28.

Upon the completion of each twine tying operation the package may be moved slidably lengthwise of the channel package support, and successive wraps placed about the package at desired intervals, as at ltd and 035, Fig. 2.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, I show a development particularly adapted to the wrapping of long, slender packages, which, however, are limited in length, at least to the extent to which they may be inserted in the machine. In other words, this particular embodiment of my invention is adapted to wrap packages which are so long and slender that they cannot be handled with complete satisfaction on my former machines. Such embodiment, however, is limited in the length of package which it is adapted to handle, as distinguished from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, which has no such limitation.

While thus limited as to length and diameter of package capacity, this embodiment of my invention has other features and advantages which materially enhance its value for certain uses. As examples of a few of such uses, I mention: the tying in bundles of insulation tubes known to the radio art as spaghetti, or extruded explosive material such as that known as cordite, and the wrapping in bundles of strands of material such as the material known as nylon bristles.

This modification in many respects is similar to the embodiment already described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive. Points of similarity include the motor drive arrangement, clutch, foot pedal, knotting mechanism, and the various gear and drive mechanisms for the several parts up to and including the chain drive for the wrapping head. Such similar parts are identitied by the same numbers as employed in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, with the sufiix a added thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated, a main frame 2Ia is supported on casters I36. An endwise extension I 3! of the frame is provided to support a twine support arm and associated parts to be described later herein.

As illustrated in Fig. 9. the sprocket ring 65a is secured, as by cap screws, to a twine arm support ring Ha which supports a twine arm 83a mounted thereon. This twine arm support ring is rotatably supported on rollers 3611 which are mounted on cap screws 75a, threaded into a mounting ring B'ia which is secured, as by cap screws 68a, to the frame Ma. The twine arm support ring Ila is grooved as at MS to receive the support rollers Tea and thereby retain the wrapping head ring against endwise movement.

A plurality of package-support mounting rollers I39 are mounted on studs, threaded into the twine arm support ring "a. These rollers provide ,a rotating mount for a troughed package support I40a by means of an annular track M3 surrounding the package-support trough (see Figs. 9 and 10).

I prefer to make the trough MI! by cutting away portions of an initially tubular member which may be of approximately number fourteen U. S. gauge steel, leaving a completely cylindrical portion to receive and support the track Hit. The package support is held against rotation by gravity, a weight I being mounted to depend therefrom as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

One end of the package-support trough terminates adjacent the twine catcher I28a, as indicated in Fig. 9, and the other end is secured, as by cap screws "5, Fig. 9, to an end plate I66. The end plate has a stub shaft I" secured thereto, as by means of a bolt 8 and cupped washer I49, the stub shaft being journaled in a hubmember l5!) in which it is retained against endwise movement by a transverse pin I53 riding in an annular groove I54 in the stub shaft.

The hub I50 is mounted, as by a press or shrink fit, on a hollow shaft I55, which in turn is journaled in a roller bearing I58 in the frame. A twine opening I5! is provided in the side of the hub I50 to permit the twine to be threaded through the hollow shaft and thence to the wrapping head.

A twine guide support arm I58 is mounted in a boss, of the hub, and is secured in place by a set screw I59, the other end of the twine guide arm being secured to the sprocket ring 65a. Twine guide loops 88a are provided at spaced intervals along the twine guide arm to guide the twine and to prevent whipping. A twine container 4060 with a support for a supply of twine, is mounted on the frame and is arranged to feed the twine IIJ'Ia through guides I60 and I63 on the frame and into the hollow shaft I55. Thence the twine is led through the twine guides 88a see Fig. 9) through the wrapping head alongside the package support, through the twine guides 88a on the twine arm, the tension control 98a and thence through the opening in the end of the twine arm 83a to the twine catcher IZBa.

A second package support I64, of semi-cylindrical trough shape, is mounted in longitudinal alignment with the package support I40 and preferably has an annular inner end portion I65 which assists in bracing the support as well as acting as a gauge ring to prevent inserting into the machine a package too large in diameter for it to handle.

The package support IN is pivoted as at I66 to a bracket I67 secured to the main frame, the pivotal axis being located outwardly from the center of gravity of the package support. The inner end of the support rests on a rubber bumper I68 on the main frame so that the support may be tilted slightly about its axis as required in manipulating a package or bundle in the machine.

A light coil spring I89 is held in tension between a bracket I10 secured to the package support and to the main frame, to assist in holding the inner end of the support in position.

A spacing pointer I13 is mounted on a block i7 8 which has an undercut recess in a side thereof, the pointer being secured in adjusted position in the block by means of a set screw I T7 (not shown). The block in turn is mounted slidably on a bar N6 of a cross sectional shape adapted to enter the recess in the block, and is secured in adjusted position thereon by a thumb screw I15. The b'ar I16 is secured to the package support trough I48 and, with the block and pointer, lies wholly within the orbit of the tm'ne arm 85a so as to be free from interference therewith.

The pointer may be adjusted so that its point is positioned above a package at a. required distance horizontally from the vertical plane of the wrap as determined, substantially, by the sweep of the end of the twine arm during a wrapping operation. A convenient method of performing this adjustment of the pointer is to apply one wrap of twine to a package in the machine, and then without moving the package to adjust the pointer to a required distance from such wrap of twine. After the completion of each wrapping operation the package may be moved lengthwise into the machine a distance sufilcient to bring the last previous wrap of twine beneath the pointer when another wrapping operation may e P formed. Successive wraps of twine thus may be applied at equally spaced intervals throughout the length of the package.

The operation of the modification of Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, with respect to the motor drive mechanism, the twine arm, and the knotting mechanism, is, in general, the same as that described for the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive.

Among the features of the modification of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive are the twine feed and handling arrangement which supplies the twine from a relatively remote stationary container to the twine arm; the package support and handling arrangement; the twine spacer, and the mounting features in connection with the wrapping head twine support arm and associated parts.

It will be noted that the twine is guided positively from the twine supply up through the hollow shaft I55, thence along the twine support arm I58 and through the central opening of the wrapping head, whence it passes through guide and tension control members, through the opening in the end of the twine arm and to the twine catcher I28a. This arrangement insures that the entire length of twine, throughout the maximum length of any package which the machine is adapted to handle, is maintained clear of the package and is fed without interference to the twine arm.

The entire assembly including the twine support arm, wrapping head, and twine arm is driven by the sprocket ring 55, a brace :bar I18 being connected from the sprocket ring to the outer end of the twine support arm I58 to assist the twine support arm in driving the outer end twine feed assembly including the hub I50 and the hollow shaft I55.

During a wrapping operation the stub shaft I41 remains stationary within the rotating hub I50 as does also the package-support trough I401; and its annular' track I 43 within the rotating wrapping head, the weight I retaining the packagesupport trough Illa in normal upright position at all times. I

The modification shown in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, shows a package tying mechanism embodying the present invention, but involving special features which particularly adapt it for use in the wrapping of long lengths of material into what may be rather large and heavy packages, such as brass, copper and iron pipe, wood and metal strips and moldings, and the like.

This modification of Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive,

relatively heavy twine or light rope in performing the wrapping operation, and for that reason the wrapping head and its supported supply of twine may be relatively heavy. Many of the parts of the present modification, however, are similar to those of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and for such parts I employ the some numbers as those used to designate like parts in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, but adding thereto the sufilx The forces of inertia both in initiating and terminating a wrapping operation are relatively great, and in order to avoid imposing too great a strain on the clutch and associated driving mechanism in beginning a wrapping operation, I connect the hub of the sprocket 51b to the wrapping head drive gear 89b by a lost motion arrangement which is illustrated clearly in Figs. 12 and 15.

The hub of the sprocket 51b is journaled on the shaft of the wrapping head drive gear 45b so that it would be free to rotate thereon were it not for the fact that an axially projecting tongue I19 from the sprocket 51b is mounted within a notch I in a collar I83 secured to the shaft of the wrapping head drive gear as by means of a taper pin I84. The notch is somewhat greater in its arcuate dimension than the tongue so as to permit a limited relative rotative movement between the sprocket and the shaft which may be approximately 15 degrees. I have found that such freedom for movement between the shaft and the sprocket permits the mechanisms up to the sprocket to acquire sufficient momentum on the initiating of a wrapping movement so that when the lost motion arrangement above described causes the shaft to engage the sprocket 51b, the remaining driven mechanism from the sprocket 51b up to and including the wrapping head and associated parts will be energized with much less strain on the clutch and drive belt than is the case where no such lost motion arrangement is provided.

The structure of the major operating portions of the modification illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, that is, the motor drive arrangement, the cam, knotter, and wrapping head, are substantially the same as those illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, so that no detailed description will be required for a complete understanding of these parts.

In order to avoid back-lash and overrun of the wrapping head 56b upon the completion of a wrapping cycle, a brake mechanism is provided which acts on the driven sprocket 63b and is transmitted to the winding head through the chain 68b.

The brake comprises a metal disc I85, having a facing I82 of suitable material, such as brake lining material, see Figs. 12 and 14, slidably mounted on a bushing I85 which is free to rotate within the hub I81 of the disc. The bushing in turn is mounted on the clutch shaft 351) which also has journaled thereon the sprocket 685. A collar I88 is secured to the shaft 55b by means of a set screw I88 to retain the bushing against axial movement as illustrated in Fig. 14, and to cause the bushing to bear against a ball thrust bearing I85 which is mounted between the left hand or inner end of the bushing I85 and a main frame member 22b. The shaft 35b is journaled in a bushing I94 mounted in the main frame member 221).

The hub I81 of the disc has a pair of trunis of a type which may necessarily use a strong, 75 nions I which engage openings i t bifurcated ends of a bell crank lever I95 pivoted in a bracket I96 secured to the frame. The opposite end 991 of the bell crank lever has an opening therein in which a brake actuating rod I88 is mounted slidably. A spring-support cup i9! is supported on the end I91 of the bell crank lever, and a coil spring 200 is held in compression between this cup and a second, oppositely disposed cup 20| which is retained in adjusted position on the rod by means of a slidable sleeve 202 and a pair of adjusting nuts 203 and Zlll.

The upper end of the brake adjusting rod I is pivotally connected as at 205 to a cam-actuated arm 206 which is pivoted as at 201 to the frame. A roller 208 is mounted on a stud 20! which is secured to the mutilated gear 46b and is adapted to depress the arm 208 upon the completion of a wrapping cycle, as determined by a complete revolution of the mutilated gear which is keyed to the same shaft as the main cam block (see 44 of Fig. 3). The depressing of the arm 206 forces the rod I98 downward and, through the compressive action of the coil spring 200, moves the bell crank lever l9! pivotally in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Fig. 14. This forces the braking surface I82 against the side of the sprocket 63b to arrest the rotation of the wrapping head. The thrust of the brake against the side of the sprocket is received by the ball bearing I93 and is transmitted to the frame.

A pair of large deeply grooved package-support rollers 2H! and 2 are mounted on brackets II! and H3 extending outwardly beyond the ends of the frame to support heavy bundles of material which may be placed upon these rollers and extending through the central opening of the wrapping head. The position of a package so supported, and which may be assumed for example to be a bundle of copper tubes l33b, is indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 12 and 13. A pair of side brackets 2H and 2l5 are bolted to the top of the frame to extend upwardly therefrom, one being mounted in each of the planes defined by the ends of the rollers 2 I and 2| I, to prevent material supported upon the rollers from spreading out laterally before an initial wrap has been tied around the package to secure it into a compact unit.

This arrangement for supporting and feeding bundles of long heavy material to and through this machine has a definite advantage in handling the frequently rapid production of the material which this machine is designed to handle. For example, material may be taken from a conveyor, not shown, located at one end of the machine, for instance, the left end as illustrated in Fig. 12, and can be rapidly bunched on the rollers between the brackets 2M and 295 and then can be fed through the machine toward the right, stopping it momentarily at required intervals to operate the wrapping mechanism. When the last wrapping operation is completed, the finished bundle can be rolled out of the machine to the right and transported to storage or shipment as required.

While I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for wrapping with twine elongated packages, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of rollers mounted on the frame to define a circle, a wrapping head having a grooved circular peripheral track mounted radially within the rollers to be rotatably supported thereby, the groove being of a width to receive the rollers to restrict axial movement of the wrapping ring, means mounted on the. machine for storing a supply of twine, means rotatable with said head for supplying said twine to one side of the head, a twine arm axially projecting from said head on the opposite side thereof from said twine supply means to rotate with said wrapping head, the twine arm being adapted to carry a reach of twine from the twine supply around a package in the machine upon rotation of the wrapping ring, and an elongated package support within the wrapping ring and extending from a point substantially beyond one side of the wrapping ring to a point on the opposite side of the wrapping ring adjacent to the plane defined by the reach of twine during a wrapping operation, to support a package during such wrapping operation, said package support being mounted to remain sub stantially stationary and thus hold the package but permit the wrapping ring to rotate freely thereabout in carrying the twine reach about the package.

2. A machine for wrapping with twine elongated packages, said machine comprising a frame, a wrapping ring support on said frame, a plurality of rollers carried by said support, a wrapping ring mounted to rotate on said rollers, means mounted on one side of the wrapping ring for storing a supply of twine, a twine arm projecting in the axial direction from the other side of the wrapping ring and adapted to carry a reach of twine from the twine supply around a package in the machine, a package support carried by the frame and projecting laterally beyond the wrapping ring, the package support projecting 9 through the ring and terminating adjacent a plane defined by the reach of the twine arm during a rotation of the wrapping ring, and tension control means mounted between the twine supply means and the end of the twine arm to control 7 the tension of twine during a package wrapping ing through the wrapping head, to support a package during a wrapping operation.

4. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted on the frame, a package support carried by the frame and extending through the wrapping ring, means pivotally mounting the package support on the frame, and journaled mounting means supporting the package support relative to the wrapping ring, the package support being mounted with its center of gravity below its axis of pivotal support to maintain the package support upright during a rotation of the wrapping ring.

5. In a machine for wrapping elongated packages, a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted on the frame, and a package support journaled in the wrapping ring with its center of gravity below its axis of mounting in the wrappingring.

6. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ringrotatably mounted on the frame, a package support journaled in the wrapping ring with its center of gravity below its axis of mounting in the wrapping ring, a twine guide extending from the wrapping ring to a point axially beyond the package support, the twine guide being pivotally supported substantially co-axially with the wrapping ring, and means for leading twine through the pivotal mounting of the twine guide whence it is conducted along the twine guide to the wrapping ring.

7. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted on the frame, a package support journaled in the wrapping ring with its center of gravity below its axis of'mounting in the wrapping ring, a twine guide extending from the wrapping ring to a point axially beyond the package support, the twine. guide being pivotally supported substantially co-axially with-the wrapping ring, an auxiliary pivotal support for the package support carried by the twine guide pivotal support substantially co-axial therewith, and means for leading twine through the pivotal mounting of the twine guide whence it is conducted along the twine guide to the wrapping ring.

8. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring mounted in the frame and adapted to pass a wrap of twine about a package in the machine, a package support carried by the frame and extending through the wrapping ring, means pivotally mounting the package support on the frame, journaled mounting means supporting the package support relative to the Wrapping ring, the package support its axis of pivotal support to hold the package support upright during a rotation of the wrapping ring, and an auxiliary package support comprising a trough-like member mounted on the frame in substantial alignment with the first package support, said package supports being separated from each other at the plane of wrap of twine, the second package support being tiltable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wrapping head to facilitate manipulation of a package during the wrapping process.

9. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of rollers mounted on the wrapping ring, and a package support cradled on said rollers concentrically with the axis of rotation of the wrapping ring, the center of gravity of the package support being below the axis of pivotal support thereof to maintain the package support from rotation during a rotation of the wrapping ring.

10. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted on the frame, and a package support passing through the wrapping ring and having cradled bearing support therein, the center of gravity of the package support being below its axis of pivotal support to maintain the package support from rotation during a wrapping o ration.

fl. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a-wrapping nng rotatably mounted on the frame, means for supbeing mounted with its center of gravity below w plying twine to the wrapping ring, a troughed I.

package support having one end thereof iournaled with respect to the frame substantially co-axially with the wrapping ring, the Journaled end of the package support being spaced axially a substantial distance from the wrapping ring, a twine guide member having one end thereof secured to the wrapping ring to rotate therewith and having the other end journaled in the frame independently of the package support, the orbit of rotation of the twine guide member being radially outward beyond the package support, the package support being joumaled for free relative rotation within the wrapping ring, and the center of gravity of the package support being below its axis of pivotal support to retain the package support upright during a rotation of the wrapping ring.

12. A machine for wrapping elongated packages comprising a frame, a wrapping ring rotatably mounted on the frame, a package suport having an annular portion journaled within the wrapping ring, a troughed extension on each side of said annular portion, a hollow twine supply shaft mounted co-axially with the wrapping ring and the package support, a twine guide member carried by the hollow shaft and secured to the wrapping ring to rotate therewith, the twine guide member being positioned to describe an orbit, upon rotation of the wrapping ring, radially beyond the package support, and a pivotal support between the twine guide member and the package support concentric with the pivotal axis of the twine guide member, the center of gravity of the package support being below the pivotal axis of support thereof to maintain the package support upright during rotation of the wrapping ring and the twine guide member.

13. A machine for wrapping packages of unlimited length comprisi'ng an annular wrapping head having a central opening therein, a twine arm mounted on the wrapping head and projecting in an axial direction from one side thereof, twine supply means carried on the other side of said wrapping head and adapted to supply twine to said twine arm, and a pair of deeply grooved rollers mounted one beyond each side of the wrapping head, the upper surfaces of said rollers defining a trough-like curved surface passing through the central opening of the wrapping head, said rollers being adapted to bunch within the wrapping head, a supply of elongated loose pieces of material laid thereon to permit rapid wrapping thereof into a bundle, said pieces and said resulting bundle being rollable on said rollers axially of the wrapping head.

14. A machine for wrapping 'with twine elongated packages, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of rollers mounted on the frame to define a circle, a wrapping head having a grooved circular peripheral track mounted radially within the rollers to be rotatably supported thereby, the groove being of a width to receive the rollers to restrict axial movement of the wrapping ring, means mounted on the machine for storing a supply of twine, means for supplying said twine to one side of the wrapping head, an axially projecting twine arm mounted on the opposite side of the wrapping ring to rotate therewith, the twine arm being adapted to carry a reach of twine from the twine supp in means 910m"! Pack age in the machine upon rotation of the wrapping ring, and a package sup mmmted swim" a package substantially stationary within the wrapping ring to thus enable free rotation of the ring about the package during a wrapping operation of said twine arm.

15. In a machine for wrapping elongated packages wherein an annular wrapping head carries a reach of twine around the package and a package support with its center of gravity substantially below the pivotal axis is pivotally supported within the wrapping head, a spacing gauge,

for supporting a package in extended relation through the ring and including means for holding the package substantially against lateral displacement while the package rests freely on said supporting means, means movable with the wrapping ring in its rotation about the packageto conduct wrapping twine to the ring for movement therethrough. a twine catcher and a knotter mechanism associated in fixed position below the supporting surfaces of the package supporting means and spaced from the wrapping ring, and a twine arm projecting in the axial direction from the side of the wrapping ring carrying the twine conducting means and guiding the twine from the ring to a wrapping plane parallel to the ring and including the eflectlve position of said twine catcher and the knotting zone of said knotting mechanism for laying the twine about the package in said wrapping plane as an incident to rotation 01' the ring. said rin and said twine arm being controlled to come to a halt after a wrapping operation with the end of the twine arm so disposed relative to the twine catcher and knotting mechanism as to enable tying of a knot to hold the twine laid about the package, said supporting means being constructed and arranged to enable longitudinal advancing movement of the package .through the ring to present successive longitudinally spaced sections of the package within said wrapping plane to receive wraps of twine there- "about.

BENJAMIN H. BUNN. 

